Coal-loading machine



1,625,726 Apnl 1927' T. 1.. JOHNSON COAL LOADING "MACHINE Filed March 18. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 In 1* A I Svwentoz 1 1 625 726 7 'r. JOHNSON COAL LOADING MACHINE Filed March 18; 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 F1 -5. i W

p. IIEITL- anventoz fiamas Z Jvfaaon 1,625,726 P" 1927' T. L. JOHNSON COAL LOADING MACHINE Filed March 18. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 zaukmx attorney CJI Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

THOMAS L. JOHNSON, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

COAL-LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed March 18, 1925. Serial No. 18,472.

This invention relates to coal loading machines and particularly that type embodying means for feeding or moving the coal from a pile or sump over to and in operative engagement with an endless receiving conveyor, from which the coal is transferred to a loading conveyor.

The primary objectof the invention is to structurally improve coal loading machines of the type specified by embodying therein '1 simplified, strong and durable orgamzw tion of components particularly adapted for loading bituminous coal in an effective and expeditious manner.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of feeding extremity for a coal loading machine comprisizrr a comparatyely few number of parts which are lirectly driven. by readily controllable operating mechanism, serving the dual purpose, by simple adjustments, of placing the entire machine in working position and for operating the feeding and conveying means after the machine is in working position.

With these and other objects and advantages in View, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a coal loading machine embodying the features of the present invention and showing a portion of the loading conveyor in operative positlon relatively thereto.

2 is a side elevation of the improved machine as shown by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Figsis a longitudinal vertical section on the line 1%, Fig. 1.

Fig. is a top plan view of the rear portion of the bed of the machine, showing the driving and controlling mechanism and also ill rating a part of the feeding roller projecting; therefrom.

his a rear end elevation of the mechanism shown byFig. 5.

Fig. 'i' is an enlarged longitudinal vertical s ction of a portion of the feeding roller, particularly showing a bearing element interposed therein.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the supporting meansfor the receiving conveyor and shown broken through at difierent parts.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the forward extremity of the supporting means for the receiving conveyor.

F 10 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 10-10, Fig. 9, on a smaller scale.

F 11 is a detail perspective view, showing the parts of the forward extremity of the supporting means for the receiving conveyor.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the receiving conveyor and one of the flights or blades.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of the joint between the link members of the re ceiving conveyor.

Fig. 14; is a diagrammatic plan view, showing the manner of placing or positioning the improved machine relatively to the coal to be loaded.

The numeral 5 designates the main sup porting or bed plate, on the upper side of which the operating or driving mechanism is mounted and mainly enclosed by a casing 6 of any suitable construction. The supporting or bed plate 5 has a clear or smooth bottom surface, to adapt the same to be readily disposed on and moved off from a conveying truck or like device when disposing the improved loading machine in operative position and during transportation thereof from one point to another. The op erating mechanism on the supporting or bed plate 5 comprises a suitable motor 7,the shaft 8 of which has its opposite extremities mounted in bearings 9 and 10, the said shaft projecting beyond the rear bearing 10 and having a pinion 11 lined thereon. This n1otor 7 may be provided with any approved starting means and other accessories incidental to devices of this class and will be supplied with current from a suitable source of electrical supply. A motion-transmitting shaft 12 is also mounted on the supporting or bed plate 5 and in suitable bearing means 1.3, said motion-transmitting shaft 12 having a pinion 15 meshing with the pinion l- V and a worm lather-eon for cooperation with a worm wheel 15., loosely mounted on a connter-shaft 16, the latter also having a shift able clutch worm 17 provided with suitable means such as pins for engaging the worm wheel 15, and by this means motion is transmitted from the motor through the shaft 12 to the counter-shaft 16. The counter-shaft 16 is mounted in suitable bearmgs'lS and extends outwardly far enough at 0n QX'- tremity for operating the conveyor mechanism, will be presently'explained. In rear of the counter-shaft 16 and mounted in suitable bearing means 19 is a drum shaft 20, which is parallel with the said shaft 16 but above the plane of the latter, the shaft 16 passing under the shaft 12 and the shaft 20 over the said latter shaft 12. The drum shaft 20 has a drum 21 suitably secured thereto, and also on the shaft 20 is mounted a worm wheel 22, which normally loose and meshes with a worm wheel 23 rotatable with the shaft 12, the worm wheel 22 being engaged when it is desired to transmit motion to the drum 21 through the medium of a sliding clutch worm gear 23 splined on the shaft 20, and whereby motion from the shaft 12 is imparted to the shaft 20 to actuate the drum. The worm gear clutches or clutch members 17 and 23 which are splined or feathered respectively on the shafts 16 and :20 are operated through the medium of mutilated gear disks 2% and 25. which are actuated to shift the worm wheel clutch members 17 and 23 by upwardly projecting rods and crank handles 26. The drum 21 may aiso be connected to and disconnected from the shaft 20 through the medium of suitable clutch mechanism 27 and operating lever 28, so that the operation of the said drum may be easily controlled to accomn'lodate positioning of the coal loading machine in a manner which will be more fully hereinafter explained. On the counter-shaft 16 a worm 29 is fixed and held in mesh with a worm gear 30 on the rear extremity of a longitudinal shaft 31, which also serves as a mo'tion-transmitting shaft. the latter shaft being mounted in suitable bearings. 3 and having on the forward extremity thereof a pinion 33 which is held in continual mesh with a pinion Set on the rear end of a loath ing roller shaft 35 extending forwardly and, beyond the front end of the supporting or base plate 5 and also mounted in suitable bearings, one of which constitutes the forward bearing 32 and advance bearing 36. On the end of the counter-shaft 16 nearest the worm wheel 29 a beveled pinion 37 is secured and meshes with a corresponding larger beveled pinion 38, which is longitudinally disposed and mounted on a vertical shaft 39, carrying on its upper end asprocket wheel 40, which is held in the rear portion of a. conveying organization also more fully hereinafter explained. On the supporting or bed plate 5 there are rear horizontally disposed guide sheaves or pulleys 41,42 and 43, the guide sheave or pulley 43 being a double pulley or having twoicable' grooves as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. .2 as at 44. The supporting or bed plate 5 also has.

at, the forward outer cornerthereof a supporting bracket on which is mounted a sheave or pulley 46, which is utilized in the placement of the loading machine. The drum 21 has a cable 47 coiled thereon and of suitable length, the said cable being the means through the operation of the drum for disposing the loading machine in operative relation to a coal pile or sump, and said cable engages the guide sheaves 41. 42 and one of the grooves 44 of the guide sheave or pulley 43 and is adapted to be anchored. so as to effect a drawing action on the entire machine, particularly when removing the latter from the transporting truck and also during subsequent placement operations. There is also a tail cable 48 provided and engaging the remaining groove of the guide sheave or pulley 44 and made fastto a loose drum 4-9 adjacent said guide sheave or pulley l3 and supplied with a controlling brake band or analogous device 50 for regulating the play or slack and taut condition of the tail cable 48.

The most essential part of the present invention is the forward feeding extremity comprising two main components, consisting of a feeding roller 51 and a receiving conveyor 52. Beneath the roller 51 and conveyor 52 in advance of the forward extremity of the supporting or bed plate 5 is an extension support or plate particularly shown by Figs. 1 and 3 and having extending therealong near the location of the roller 51 a guard 5st with an outer ver tical or upright angular face and an inner downwardly curved or beveled face 56. The roller 51 has its rear end close to the front end of the supporting or bed plate 5 and its outer extremity provided with a bearing element 56, which is engaged by a bearing strap or analogous device 57 connected to the plate 53 below. and by means of which the forward extremity of the roller is held in positive rotating position. The plate 53 has the opposite side. edge portion thereof secured to the underside of an intermediate conveyor frame plate or support 58 of the form in cross section shown by Fig. 3, the intern'iediate portion of this hearing or supporting plate 58 being reduced in thickness and having the opposite side edge portions enlarged as at 59. On the upper and lower sides of the enlarged portions 59 metallic guide strips (50 are secured, there being two of these strips on one enlargement 59 and one on the other, in View of the fact that the plate 53 extends under and is secured to the one enlargement and thereby renders the additional strip 60 at this point unnecessary. On the strips 60 and facing inwardly are space bars 61, one of the said bars being secured to the plate 53 and in alineinent with the other similar bar above. These space bars 61 are of less width than the strips 60, so that inner spaces .62 arev provided for the operation of the receiving conveyor and Hill Jil

to maintain the latter in true working alinement. The opposite extremities of the intermediate supporting plate or member 58 are provided with parallel, longitudinally extending securing arms 68, these arms 68 at the rear extremity of the intermediate supporting plate 58 being secured on frame pieces 641:, which are in turn attached to the supporting or bed plate 5 at a suitable distance in rear of the forward extremity of the latter. The forward pair of securing arms 63 of the intermediate plate 58 is associated with a head comprising a bottom flanged member having an elevated bearing section 66 with a central upwardly projecting securing boss 67, the said forward pair of arms 63 engaging the upper surface of the section 66 on opposite sides of the securing boss 67 and having applied thereover a top member or plate 68 with a central rearwardly opening slot 69, into which the boss 67 projects, all of these parts being united by bolts extending through slots 70 in the member 69 and the section 66 and lower flange 65, and also through openings 71 formed in the forward pair of arms 63. The space bars 61 heretofore described are continued through the medium of similar bars 68 and 65, respectively extending around the outer under-portion of the member orplate 68 and the flange 65, and when these head components are secured and the forward pair of arms 68 in place, the same inner spaced formation as at 62 in Fig. 3 is continued around and between the parts of the head. The member or plate 68 is also secured at the forward portion thereof in advance of the slot 69 to the section 66 with its flange 65 below by a central bolt This head structure takes the place of the usual form of sprocket wheel embodied in conveyor organizations, the endless conveying means traveling around and in fric iional contact with the outer edge of the ection 66. Means are also provided for adjusting the upper and lower members of the head component as just explained and as shown by Fig. 10, the said means consisting of a turn screw having an intermediate cylindrical body 73 with an opeuing T l therein which is exposed between t he forward pair of arms 63 for engagement therewith of any suitable tool for operating the same. From the'rear end of the cylinder 73 a smooth center-pin 75 extends into a central ocket 76 in the forward end of the intermediate supporting plate 58 and projecting from the forward end of the intermediate cylinder 73 is a screw 76 which engages a screw socket 77 formed in the center of the rear end-of the section 66. By this means and through the formation of the slots 70, the head components may be adjusted to regulate the tension of the endless chain belt of the receiving conveyor.

At the rear and over the supporting or bed plate 5 the frame structure for the endless receiving conveyor just described is con tinued upwardly with the same formation in curved lines which have a predetermined vertical extent as at '78, and the sprocket wheel an on the upper end of the shaft 39 is located between the upper and rear spaced members 79 of this rear terminal of the con veyor frame. The endless conveyor chain belt is shown particularly by Figs. 12 and 1S and is composed of a plurality of links 79* and 80, which alternately vary in structure, the uppermost link members 81 of the connecting chain links 79 having upwardly and downwardly projecting short flanges or keepers 82, and the alternate links having longer upwardly and downwardly projec ing flanges 83, to engage the spaces 62 between the outer edges of the enlarged portions 59 of the intermediate plate 58 and the space bars 61, to thereby hold the endless chain belt in positive association with the frame structure therefor. The links 80 have projecting from the outer side edges thereof and preferably at central points horizontal bosses 8d with sockets 85 therein to receive reduced angular stems or shanks 86 of curved flights or blades 87, the shanks 86 being held in the sockets of correspondii'ig shape against turning action by set screws 88 entering the sides of the bosses 8d. The links 81 and 80 are connected to have free movement to compensate for turning action relatively to the head structure of the sup porting frame and the sprocket wheel 10, and to provide for this compensation the connecting tongues 89 and pivot boss-es 9U projecting through the said tongues are constructed for a certain amount of play, the openings 91 through the tongues having convex walls, and through the said pivot bosses and tongues pivot pins are passed. and by this means a binding tendency at the joints between the links will be obviated so that they may readily assume a free conr pensating position relatively to the turning surfaces which they engage. It will he understood in this connection that the flights or blades 87 may be readily removed. and replaced and their structure or general contour modified at will to provide for any variation in service that may be found necessary in loading coal or other material to which the machine may be adapted.

The shaft 35 continues forwardly beyond the bearing 36 therefor and the front end of the supporting or bed plate 5 through the center of the roller 51, the said shaft 35. as

shown by Fig. 7 being shouldered as at 93, 1

to form an inner limit or stop for the said roller 51. The roller 51 is in the form of a tubular body or hollow cylinder 94 and comprises a tapered nose end 95 beyond or in advance of the bearing element 56, the shaft lllil continuing on through the center of the hollow cylindrical body 94 of the roller and nutted at the front screw-threaded end against the front end of the nose 95, as at 90, to maintain the roller as an entirety in positive applied position relatively to the shaft 35. The main body of the roller 51 and the nose 95 are in two parts and have the bearing element 56 mounted therebetween, said bearing element being in the form of a spoollike body having an intermediate reduced portion 97 and forward and rear end flanges 98 and 99. At the center of the rear end of the bearing element a nut socket 100 is constructed for the reception of a nut 101 engaging a threaded portion 102 of the shaft The opposite flanged ends of the bearing element 56 have dowel pins 103 projecting into sockets 101 formed in said flanged ends and extending in reverse directions and secured to enclosed bearing collars 105 and 106 within the hollow cylindrical body 9 1 of the roller 51. Another bearing collar 107, similar to the hearing collars 105 and 106, is fitted in the rear end of the hollow cylindrical body 941 of the roller 51 and engages the shoulder 93 of the shaft 35. The object of the nut 101 en- 'z'aging the screw threads 102 of the shaft 15 and the nutted and threaded forward eX- tremity 96 of the said shaft 35 is to draw the main body and nose extremity of the roller 51 longitudinally over the shaft 35 in close elation and also to facilitate the introduction of the bearing element 56. Extending longitudinally over the main body of the roller 51 and the nose 95 thereof are continuous spiral blades 108, which are so directed, or have such trend, as to draw the coal or other material to be loaded into the path of engagement of the endless receiving conveyor hereinbefore explained, or to be picked up by the flights or blades 87 from the upper flat side of the plate 53 between the guard 54: and the adjacent part of the supporting means for the receiving conveyor. As shown by Fig. 3, the flights or blades 87 have their lower edges moving or traveling in close relation to the upper surface of the plate 53, and the coal or other mate rial thrown over by the roller 51 into the path of movement of the flights or blades 57 will be readily shifted rearwardly over the plate 53 and upwardly over the raised or elevated portion 78 of the supporting means for this receiving conveyor, and finally reach and be deposited upon a downwardly extending deflector or chute 109, which terminates over the lower extremity ofan upwardly and rearwardly inclined loading conveyor 110, as shown by Figs; 1 and 2. This loadingconveyor 110 may be of any length and preferred construction, there being many devices ofthis class new in usethat would etliciently serve in connection with the receiving conveyor as hereinbefore explained.

The operation of the improved loading machine is very simple, the first step being in the placement of the same, which is accomplished through the mechanism connected to the drum 21 and the actuation of the latter to in turn unwind or wind the cable 4-7;. the cable being lirst operated with relation to a certain anchorage as at the point 111, Fig. 1 1, and the se'curement of the tail cable 18 to an anchorage device 112 to position the machine relatively to a pile or sump of coal to be loaded, or said cable -17 and tail cable may be operated in an) other manner found necessary in the place- :nent of the machine and particularly in shifting the machine along the face of a mine to reach various piles of coal and at which time the cable a7 is released from the pulleys 11 and 12 and one of the grooves 1st of the pulley 43 and threaded through the pulley 40-, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11. "he manipulation of the cables 17 and -18 will he obviously modified in various ways to dispose the machine in the position in effective in performing its loading function, and the course pursued in the operation of these cables will be that ordinarily adopted in similar mine machinery. After tliemachine has been placed in the position desired, the drum 21 is released from the operating mechanism through the clutch mechanism hereinbeforc explained and the shaft 16 is clutched into, or operatively connected to, the shaft 12, said shaft 16 during the placement of the machine remaining idle or in inoperative condition by separation of the clutch means therefor from the clutch means of the shaft 12. \Vhen the shaft 16 is clutched into operative engagement with the shaft 12, the shaft 31 is rotated and likewise the shaft 39, and the rotation of these two shafts effects a rotation of the roller 51 and theinovement of the receiving conveyor 52, and as the roller rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, the coal is drawn over into the path of movement of the flights or blades 87, or onto the plate 53 inside of the guard 54:. This guard acts to prevent the coal from working off the edge of the plate under the roller and also facilitates the direction of both fine and lump coal into position for engagement by the flights or blades 87. The coal carried rearwardly over the plate 53 and then upwardly through the elevation of the rear part of the conveyor frame as shown by Fig. 2 reaches the chute 109 and is deposited upon the load ing conveyor 110, which may be operated by any suitable mechanism. Theloading conveyor 110may deposit the coal directly into mine cars or into other receptacles, or in positions at a distance from the face of the vein where the coal was originally mined. As hereinbefore indicated, the continuous spiral blades 108 of the roller 51, especially in loading bituminous coal, are of material advantage relatively to loading rollers previously used and having broken flights or projections, in that the present form of roller picks up and effectively transfers the powdered or crushed bituminous coal as well as the lumps, and as a consequence a clean or complete loading operation results. it will be understood, however, that anthracite coal may be loaded by the improved device after the said coal has been sized or broken, or any other material may be opirated upon by the improved loader, such, for instance, as gravel, sand and other analogous substances.

It will be further understood that the improved machine may be modified in its proportions, dimensions and minor details of construction to adapt the same to various uses and applications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. A loading machine of the class specified having a forward loading extremity comprising a flat receiving plate with an endless receiving conveyor at one side edge thereof and a guard near the opposite side edge, the conveyor having flights movable over the said plate between the supporting means therefor and the said guard, and a feeding roller disposed above and near one side of the plate outwardly beyond the guard, said roller having spiral blades continuing lengthwise thereover, and means for operating the receiving conveyor and roller.

2. A loading machine of the class specified, comprising a loading extremity having a horizontal receiving plate with an endless conveyor at one side, and a feeding roller disposed above the opposite side of the said plate and having continuous spiral blades extending thereover and operating to throw the material loaded inwardly onto the plate in the path of movement of the receiving conveyor elements.

3. A loading machine of the class specifled, comprising a loading extremity having a flat receiving member with a conveyor at one side thereof provided with movable flights which travel lengthwise over the said flat receiving member, a feeding roller disposed above the opposite side of the said flat receiving member and having continuous spiral blades extending lengthwise thereof, a guard on the flat receiving member below and adjacent the roller and having an inner downwardly inclined curved side, and mechanism for operating the roller and receiving conveyor.

4:. A loading machine of the class specified, comprising a forwardly extending, horizontally disposed receiving member, a

receiving conveyor disposed longitudinally of and movable over one side of said member, a feed roller disposed along and above the other side of the said member and having a front tapered extremity, the body and front tapered extremity of the roller having means for drawing material towards and moving it along and substantially the full length of said roller and delivering the material inwardly onto the said receiving member for engagement by the receiving con veyor.

5. A. loading machine of the class specified, comprising a forward loading extrenr ity including a frame having guide spaces at opposite sides and around the forward end and an endless chain belt with projections to engage the said guide spaces and also provided with outwardly extending blades, horizontally disposed means over which the blades have movement, a feeding roller disposed above and adjacent one side of the said horizontally disposed means and provided with spiral blades extending there over to throw the material to be loaded onto said means within the path of movement of the blades of the conveyor, and mechanism for operating the roller and conveyor.

6. A loading machine of the class specified, comprising a bed frame with a forwardly projecting horizontally disposed conveyor frame having guide spaces at opposite sides and continuing around the front end thereof, an endless chain belt comprising a series of movably connected links with upper and lower projecting devices to en gage the said guide spaces, the said links having blades projecting outwardly therefrom at intervals, a receiving plate secured to the lower portion of the conveyor frame and to the bed plate, a feeding roller disposed above and adjacent one side of said receiving plate and provided with continuous spiral blades extending thereover to throw the material to be loaded onto the said receiving plate, and mechanism for op erating the roller and the conveyor.

7. A loading machine of the class specified, comprising a forward loading extremity including a receiving conveyor provided with blades projecting outwardly therefrom, a horizontally disposed plate over which the blades of the conveyor have movement during the rearward travel of the said blades, a feeding roller disposed above and adjacent one side of said horizontally disposed means and provided with continuous spiral blades extending fully thereover, a bearing device between the said plate and the forward extremity of the roller to sup port the latter, and mechanism for operating the roller and the receiving conveyor.

8. A. loading machine of the class specified, comprising a loading extremity having a horizontal receiving plate with an endless conveyor at one side thereof, a feeding roller disposed above the opposite side of said plate and having continuous spiral blades extending thereover and operating to throw the material to be loaded inwardly onto the plate in the path of movement of the receiving conveyor elements, mechanism for operating the conveyor and the roller, and means controlled in part by the said mechanism to dispose the machine in operative position relatively to the material to be loaded.

9. A loading machine of the class specified, comprising abed plate having a forwardly extending, horizontally disposed receiving ll'lGlIlliJEl. a receiving conveyor dismy hand.

THOIMIAS L. JOHNSON. 

